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Workers at a food factory in Milton Keynes allege they have banned from taking water breaks during their shifts, leaving them thirsty for up to six hours at a time while doing manual labour.

Employees at the Cranswick Food factory in Milton Keynes are not able to take bottles of water onto the factory floor due to hygiene rules. They instead visit the canteen each time they want a drink and use the water dispenser.

Because hygiene rules mean they cannot take their own bottles of water on to the factory floor, the workers claim they must now go up to six hours without a drink.

Heavy manual work

“We mostly work 12 hour shifts with two breaks of about half an hour each,” said a spokesman for the workers.

“The company packages meat for retailers such as Tesco and Sainsbury.

“It’s quite heavy manual work and it can make you thirsty,” he added.

‘Everybody is furious’

Previously workers have been allowed to leave the factory floor and go to the water machine in the canteen to get a drink whenever they wanted.

“The bosses have suddenly introduced a new rule saying employees can no longer do this and have to wait for break times to get water… I’m positive this is against health and safety regulations,” said the spokesman.

“Everybody is furious. They are being denied a basic human right.”

‘There’s a lot of people going thirsty’

Cranswick foods, based in Snelshall, employs more than 600 people.

“That’s a lot of people going thirsty,” claimed the workers’ spokesman.

Cranswick Foods factory in Milton Keynes has been contacted for comment about the alleged water ban.

Allegation refuted

Workers claimed they have been told a letter confirming the alleged ban would be sent out to them from the company this week.

A spokesperson from Cranswick Foods told i the company refuted the allegation.

Factory manager Craig Baxter told MK Citizen: “This is not about not giving them water. It is about people giving us information when they leave the shop floor.”

‘We are not restricting them’

He added: “We are absolutely not restricting them with water.”

Mr Baxter said he would arrange for a company director to call MK Citizen to give a statement.

Despite a follow-up call to head office, Cranswick Foods bosses have failed to respond.

A spokesperson for the company later told i: “Cranswick is aware of allegations regarding working conditions at its Milton Keynes site by an ex-employee. These allegations are entirely inaccurate.”

“The site has recently reconfirmed its company policy that all employees must notify their line manager before leaving the production line, to ensure both health and safety and food safety requirements are always met. The company can confirm it has made no changes to employee’s contractual terms or conditions at the site or employees entitlement to take water breaks.”

I gave up my career to try out 25 jobs before I turned 25 – this is why

Working this Bank Holiday weekend? Know your lieu day rights

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